Don’t Fall For the “Fake Fed” Scam

by DeLadurantey Law Office, LLC on July 23, 2014

There are a wide variety of scams you can get caught up in, but one of the more effective ones is when the scammer pretends to be a government official. It starts with a telephone call from the con artist who alleges to be with a government or law enforcement agency and threatens to file a lawsuit against you if you do not immediately pay your debt. Sadly, many people are intimidated by these imposters and send money to them.

Abusive tactics such as intimidation are also used by real debt collectors. Recently the FTC announced it is pursuing a Federal Check Processing and its affiliates for using unlawful tactics to collect debt, including accusing individuals of check fraud and other criminal activities. The collectors go so far as to threaten lawsuits, jail time and asset seizures if the debt is not paid – emphasizing they are associated with federal or state entities. Lastly, the FTC claims the collectors failed to provide consumers with the information they are legally entitled to receive or verify the legitmacy of the debt.

What can you do if you get a call like this? Below are a few things to remember:

You should never be asked to wire money or load money onto a money card as a way to repay your debt.

If you are suspicious about the agency calling you, look up the official number and contact them directly to get the truth. Federal agencies do not ask consumers to send money for their unpaid loans.

Even if the caller is attempting to collect a legitimate debt, you have certain rights and protections under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If you believe these rights are being violated, you should contact us for assistance.

The “defender of the little guy,” DeLadurantey Law Office, LLC. handles student loan debt and bankruptcy matters (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13) in Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, West Milwaukee, and Milwaukee County, including the municipalities of Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Franklin, Glendale, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Oak Creek, River Hills, Shorewood, St. Francis, Wauwatosa, West Allis, and Whitefish Bay. The firm also can handle your debt negotiations, debt relief, and mortgage loan modifications. Contact DeLadurantey Law Office, LLC by phone: (414) 377-0518. Like us on Facebook.